Former Orange County judge engages FBI in shootout

Former Orange County Court Judge and prosecutor Stewart Rosenwasser was about to be arrested by the FBI when he took his own life on Tuesday morning at his home.

Rosenwasser tragically shot himself as law enforcement arrived at his Campbell Hall home. According to the FBI, there was an exchange of gunfire at Rosenwasser’s home. It is believed that Rosenwasser then turned the gun on himself.

In a statement, the FBI said: “The FBI is reviewing an agent-involved shooting that occurred earlier this morning in Campbell Hall, NY. The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents seriously. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide.”

According to a criminal indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District, Rosenwasser, while serving as Chief Counsel in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, allegedly accepted at least approximately $63,000 in bribe payments from Moutz “Marty” Soudani. In exchange for the bribe payments, Rosenwasser, using the authority of the District Attorney’s Office, allegedly assisted and was influenced by Soudani to investigate and prosecute two of his family members.

To conceal his criminal conduct, Rosenwasser allegedly lied to senior leadership in the District Attorney’s Office about his relationship with Soudani. After he was removed from the case, Rosenwasser still attempted to get access to evidence, according to the indictment. It is also alleged that Rosenwasser made false statements on financial disclosure forms and lied to federal agents.

Rosenwasser abruptly resigned from the District Attorney’s Office in June after five years. Several sources confirmed that Rosenwasser’s departure came shortly after the FBI executed a search warrant at his home as part of an investigation into the Soudani case.

Last month, attorneys representing Soudani’s two relatives who were prosecuted by Rosenwasser filed claims against the District Attorney’s Office for $7.5 million each, alleging “the most blatant example of prosecutorial corruption and fraud in the annals of New York case law.” Orange County, District Attorney David Hoovler, and Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Borek are also named in both claims.

“It’s truly heartbreaking that it ended this way. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family,” said Hoovler about Rosenwasser’s death.